Watch: Galcik’s stoppage-time goal hands Slovakia win over Malta in international friendly

SLOVAKIA     2

Haraslin 9; Galcik 90

MALTA            1

J. Mbong 37

It was an unfortunate outcome for the national team who showed great character against superior opponents. The Slovaks held the majority of possession and created a lot of chances, but were denied by a superb goalkeeping display from Henry Bonello.

Despite Slovakia’s pressure, Malta kept fighting and created a few scoring opportunities that could have swayed the match in their favour.

But in the end, it was Slovakia who prevailed, but despite the defeat, there were still a lot of positives to take for coach De Leo ahead of Friday’s second warm-up match against Azerbaijan in Hungary.

A major novelty in Emilio De Leo’s starting formation was the inclusion of young players Kean Scicluna and Keyon Ewurum.

Scicluna, who last season was on loan at Żabbar SP from Ħamrun Spartans, started in a central defensive role alongside Kurt Shaw. At the same time, Ewurum was deployed on the right-hand side of the team’s attacking line alongside Yles Chouaref and Joseph Mbong.

The Slovaks dominated the match right from the outset. After two minutes, Lukas Haraslin turned past his marker, and his shot was deflected just wide.

Four minutes later, Henry Bonello came to the team’s rescue when the towering goalkeeper denied Tomas Suslov.

The home side’s pressure yielded dividends on nine minutes when Malta lost possession cheaply in midfield, and the home side embarked on a quick transition as Haraslin sped into space and hit the ball past Bonello.

Malta finally threatened on 16 minutes when Ewurum showed great skill to turn past his marker, but his shot finished just over.

The Slovaks almost doubled their lead on 24 minutes when Pavek burst inside the area and squared the ball into the path of Strelec, who, incredibly, shot straight at Bonello in front of a gaping goal.

Slovakia’s profligacy came back to haunt them in the 37th minute when Zach Muscat sent a cross into the path of Joseph Mbong, who managed to fire the ball home.

The goal stunned the hosts and Malta almost struck again two minutes later when Chouaref fed Ewurum who turned past his marker but his shot was blocked.

After the break, Slovakia tried to step up the pressure and they started to dominate possession but still, they were finding it tough to trouble Bonello, in the Malta goal.

Slovakia finally threatened 20 minutes from time when substitute Robert Bozenik was put through on goal but was denied by the onrushing Bonello.

Substitute Andrea Zammit almost put Malta ahead on 78 minutes when he was set up by Kevin Cannavo but his curling drive just missed the upright.

Slovakia laid siege to the Malta late on and they almost snatched it in stoppage time when Kovacik’s fierce drive from outside the area hit the upright with Bonello beaten.

But the hosts were not to be denied as the Slovaks grabbed the winner with the last kick of the match when substitute Galcik hit an angled shot that gave no chance to Bonello.

SLOVAKIA

D. Takac, H. Pavek (80 P. Kovacik), M. Valjent (80 M. Fasko), L. Satka (80 K. Bari), A. Obert, L. Benes (46 A. Kapralik), P. Pokorny (46 M. Bero), O. Duda (66 A. Gajdos), T. Suslov (66 R. Galcik), D. Strelec (40 R. Bozenik), L. Haraslin (66 M. Sauer).

MALTA

H. Bonello, J. Corbalan (46 M. Beerman), K. Scicluna (46 E. Pepe), K. Shaw (90 J. Borg), Z. Muscat (60 Z. Muscat), T. Teuma (60 B. Paiber), M. Guillaumier (90 J. Grech), K. Ewurum (46 K. Cannavo), A. Satariano (60 A. Zammit), Y. Chouaref (74 A. Garzia), J. Mbong (P. Mbong).

Referee M. Kapraly.